Foo-fighters

[CaseyKnight]

I'd almost swear that one of the cases the B-29's encountered when shot at fell to the earth and burst into flames. I think they might have popped one of the incendiary balloons the Japanese were often sending over our way (as in, to the United States)

 

[edwest4]

I'd almost swear that one of the cases the B-29's encountered when shot at fell to the earth and burst into flames. I think they might have popped one of the incendiary balloons the Japanese were often sending over our way (as in, to the United States)

Definitely not. I have seen a newspaper photo (not to hand) that shows balls of light going up to meet American bombers on a raid in the Pacific.

 

[Nik]

FWIW, I still reckon they were 'weather balloons' used to measure wind-shear, the better to train AAA.

For tracking purposes, given such numbers deployed, a flare would be more economical than a radiosonde...

 

[CaseyKnight]

Definitely not. I have seen a newspaper photo (not to hand) that shows balls of light going up to meet American bombers on a raid in the Pacific.

I'm not saying all of them were. There was one case that did appear to fit the description that I outlined, however.